1857. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMEE. 



371 



MAKE HAY WHILE THE SU3T SHINES 



The above pithy expression is no less correct 

 than the many proverbs in our language, which 

 take their date from the time whereof the memory 

 of man runneth not to the contrary, but which, un- 

 fortunately, are too familiar to meet the attention 

 due to their intrinsic worth. More than ten years ex- 

 tensive experience has convinced me that hay can be 

 made on/j/ when the sun shines, and that, however 

 beautifultheir theory, and however excellent their 

 plans may appear on paper, those writers who ad- 

 vocate any other mode of curing hay have not sub- 

 mitted their principles to the test of experience, 

 and judge too entirely from a superficial view of 

 the subject. My practice has ever been during 

 summer, to have my men emplo}ed by or before 

 the rising of the sun, but on no account would I 

 permit one of them to use his scythe. A part of 

 my men unloaded- the hay left in the carts the pre- 

 ceding evening, and the others ground scythes, 

 and prepared for the labors of the day. The stock 

 were cared for, and all arnngements so made that 

 no hindrance might occur after all hands began to 

 work at haj''. As soon as the dew was principally 

 off the grass, the whole force were brought to bear 

 upon the mowing, and in two or three hours, (with 

 a mowing machine in m.uch less time,) the lightest 

 being cut while a little dew was still upon it, as 

 much grass was cut as could receive due attention. 

 By this time also, it had all been tedded. It was 

 then immediately set out for winrows, and tedded, 

 and turned continually without a noonspell, (for the 

 sun shines brightest, and the hay makes fastest 

 from 12 to 2 o'clock,) until 2 or 3 o'clock, P. M., 

 when, if the day proved fine, much of it was fit to 

 cart. The carts were immediately loaded while the 

 hay was warm, with those portions which were 

 best cured, and placed in safety in the barns. The 

 portion of the grass thus cut not sufficiently cured 

 for carting, was placed in cocks, in which state it 

 remained until the next day, when, in good weath- 

 er it was generally in excellent order for carting 

 without further labor. The whole business was 

 completed by the time the dew began to fall. 



Such is the general system for the day. It is an 

 old maxim among farmers, that if, on any day, 

 there are to be showers, their prognostics will be 

 distinctly perceptible by or before eleven o'clock, 

 A. M. Should the weather have an uni'avorable 

 appearance, less grass is cut, and the whole force 

 is applied to the making of the haj'. Under this 

 course, for several years, I had scarcely a load of 

 hay wet. The advantage of the course lies in the 

 wonderful rapidity with which hay may be cured, 

 if cut afler the dew is off, especially if it is thor- 

 oughly tedded and turned, that it lies light on the 

 ground, pervious to the gentlest breezes. A north- 

 west wind and a clear sun have a most astonishing 

 effect upon hay thus tended. 



I am satisfied by full and long continued experi- 

 ence, that grass cut early in the morning, while 

 loaded with dew, cannot, by the most sedulous at- 

 tention, be made as dry in the whole day, as it 

 would have been if cut as soon as the dew was off, 

 in half an hour's proper tending. In fact, I would 

 not thank a man to cut my grass while the dew 

 was heavy upon it, as I am convinced more labor 

 and more time would be required to make the hay, 

 than to cut it at what I think the proper time of 

 the day, and then make it. I have never gained 



any thing by putting myself or my men to any 

 heavy labor before breakfast. The vigor and ener- 

 gy of the system is impaired very materially for 

 the whole day. The maxim which I have taken 

 for a motto is the best possible rule. Have all im- 

 plements in proper order, and all things in readi- 

 ness as soon as the dew is off, and the sun shines 

 clear, to make hay, and work steadily and constant- 

 ly, until he ceases to shine, and you will accom- 

 plish an amount of labor unparalleled in any other 

 course. — Homestead. 



Eemaeks. — The above confirms the statements 

 we have often made, that hay maybe got in, in ex- 

 cellent order, the same day it is cut. Indeed, a 

 large portion of our own is so managed ; but in 

 such case, it must have a hot sun and be kept in 

 motion often. We think there is much more in- 

 jured by overmaking than by not being cured 

 enough. 



For the New England Farmer. 



ONIOIJ CULTUKE. 



Mr. Bro^v:^ : — Since I first called your atten- 

 tion to the malady that threatens the onion crop — 

 and the plants have advanced from three to nine 

 inches in height — 1 have noticed its progress with 

 care, and am now able to describe it with pre- 

 cision. It is noticeable by the experienced eye, 

 at several rods distant ; giving a sickly, faltering 

 aspect to the plant. On a more close examination, 

 it will appear discolored, with a bkck and blue as- 

 pect, and in some instances, the stem will burst 

 open, and a dark sediment will ooze out, that can 

 be rubbed off. Wherever this is seen, the plant 

 lingers and dies. The disease spreads rapidly, and 

 is contagious in its character. On ground where 

 it has once been, it is sure to appear again. I have 

 seen it on the grounds of several experienced cul- 

 tivators, but on none so extensively as those of the 

 Messrs. Buxton, Bagley and Wilson. Mr. J. B., 

 the inventor of the "onion hoe," which you have 

 heretofore noticed with approbation, and which is 

 indeed a labor-saving implement, worthy of notice, 

 doing three times the work in the same time, and 

 in a much better manner than can otherwise be 

 done^calls the affection the black vomit ; it is in- 

 deed as offensive in its appearance, and fatal in its 

 operations as is this malady to persons. Perhaps 

 I have already said too much on so small a subject; 

 but as it is our chief means of living, when this is 

 interrupted, we are approached in a tender point; 

 and, therefore, you will not be surprised if we 

 squirm a little. South Danvers. 



June 15, 1857. 



To THE Members of the State Board of Ag- 

 riculture. — An individual has pretty industiously 

 circulated the idea that the jYew England Far- 

 vier is unfriendly id the Board of Agriculture. We 

 understand the weakness and vanity which has 

 prompted such an idea, and shall feel obliged to 

 unmask them if his insinuations are continued. 



No men more highly appreciate the labors of the 

 Board, and their liberal expenditure of time, 

 money and talent, than do the Editors of the Far- 



